Transfer tool, refill for transfer tool and transfer tool set

ABSTRACT

A transfer tool set is configured such that a plurality of refills, for example, a narrow refill, a medium refill and a wide refill, are prepared and a common transfer tool main body is able to selectively accommodate any of the refills. As transfer tools constituted with the transfer tool set, a first transfer tool in which the narrow refill is installed on the common transfer tool main body, a second transfer tool in which the medium refill is installed on the transfer tool main body and a third transfer tool in which the wide refill is installed on the transfer tool main body can be cited.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a transfer tool to be used in a statethat a refill having reels to wind and hold a transfer tape is installedon a transfer tool main body.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there have been proposed various transfer tools thatinclude a refill being configured such that a refill main body supportsa pair of reels to feed and wind up a transfer tape, and a transfer toolmain body having a case that accommodates the refill detachable from thecase (See Patent document 1, for example).

The transfer tool described in the Patent document 1 can transfer atransfer substance in a required width by selecting and installing oneof refills more than one kind in which widths of transfer tapes aredifferent from each other on a common transfer tool main body.

However, with the transfer tool described in the above Patent document,most components of the refills such as reels for winding the transfertapes, members for holding the reels and members for covering the reelsfrom the outside constituting the transfer tool main bodies vary in formdepending on the widths of the transfer tapes. In respect to such atransfer set that a plurality of refills are prepared in relation to acommon transfer tool main body, the number of components of the transfertool set therefore becomes much larger than the number of components ofa single transfer tool.

RELATED ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

Patent document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2002-178694.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

The present invention has paid attention to the above-described flaws,it is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer tool forwhich transfer tapes more than one kind that have different width areavailable while preventing the number of components from increasing.

Means of Solving the Problems

In order to realize the above object, the present invention has preparedthe following means.

Specifically, a transfer tool according to the present invention ischaracterized in that it includes a refill being configured such that arefill main body supports a pair of reels to feed and wind up a transfertape and a transfer tool main body having a case that is able toselectively accommodate either the refill or another refill whichincludes other reels having different width from the reels of the refillinside, each of the reels having a wheel part supported by a supportingshaft of the refill main body and a body part provided to be continuouswith a periphery of the wheel part so that the transfer tape is woundaround a periphery of the body part, the refill main body having arefill base in which at least each part corresponding to each of thereels is flat and a pair of protuberance parts protruding from one faceof the refill base toward the wheel parts of the reels, each of top endfaces of the protuberance parts guiding the corresponding wheel part ofeach of the reels.

Such configuration facilitates handling a variety of transfer tapes inwidth through adjusting positions of the top end faces of theprotuberance parts and the wheel parts of the reels relative to the bodyparts on which the transfer tape is wound at least without changing theform of the refill base.

Here, shape of the protuberance part is not limited to a cylinder. Apolyhedron, a partly-notched cylinder, and so on. In short, any shapemay be employed as long as a top end face thereof is able to guide thewheel part of the reel.

And, if the transfer tool according to the to the present inventionincludes a transfer head to guide the transfer tape from the feedingreel toward the winding reel and each of the reels is positionedrelatively with the transfer head so that the center in the widthdirection of the transfer tape is able to pass on the center of thetransfer head, changing a feeling of use for an user is effectivelyavoided even though the widths of the transfer tape varies.

As a configuration to facilitate handling a plurality of transfer tapesthat have different width without changing size of the transfer toolitself, the configuration can be cited in which each of the body partsof the reels is set such that a part of the body part is laid over aperiphery of the protuberance part.

As a mode to facilitate unifying components of the transfer tool mainbody regardless of width of the transfer tape, the mode can be cited inwhich empty spaces are formed on both sides of each of the reels andhave a width equivalent to a width of an exposed part of each of theprotuberance parts that is not covered by each of the body parts of thereels.

With respect to the refill constituting the above transfer tool, as anexample of configuration of the refill base and the reels to facilitatehandling the transfer tape that has a narrow width, the configurationcan be cited in which each of the reels is configured such that the bodypart is provided on the periphery of the wheel part to set an end faceon a side close to the refill base of the body part is approximatelyflush with a side face close to the refill base of the wheel part.

When handling the transfer tape that has a large width using a commonrefill base, it is desirable that each of the reels be configured suchthat the body part is provided on the periphery of the wheel part toextend an end part on a side close to the refill base of the body parttoward the refill base further than a side face close to the refill baseof the wheel part and dimension of the extended portion of the body partbe set smaller than protrusion dimension of the protuberance part.

In order to constitute a refill that facilitates getting a preferablefeeling of use regardless of width of the transfer tape, it ispreferable that the refill be configured such that the transfer head toguide the transfer tape from the feeding reel toward the winding reel isprovided on the refill base and each of the reels be positionedrelatively with the transfer head so that the center in the widthdirection of the transfer tape is able to pass on the center of thetransfer head.

As a configuration to suitably support the reels even if theprotuberance parts mate with the reels having the body parts withdifferent width, the configuration can be cited in which each of theprotuberance parts has a cylindrical shape with an outside diameter setsmaller than an inside diameter of the body part and is provided suchthat an axis of the protuberance part coincides with an axis of thereel, each of supporting shafts to support each of the wheel parts ofthe reels protruding at a center part on a top end of each of theprotuberance parts. Here, it is unnecessary that diameter of theprotuberance parts be larger than diameter of the supporting shafts.

In addition, a transfer tool set according to the present invention,which allows selecting a desired transfer tape from among transfer tapesthat have different width and can ideally be used with a refill havingany width, is characterized in that a plurality of the refills includingthe above refills are prepared and a common transfer tool main body isable to selectively accommodate any of the refills.

That is, a transfer tool according to the present invention ischaracterized in that it includes a refill being configured such that arefill main body supports a pair of reels to feed and wind up a transfertape and a transfer tool main body having a case that is able toselectively accommodate either the refill or another refill whichincludes other reels having different width from the reels of the refillinside, empty spaces being formed on both sides of each of the reels sothat the case is able to accommodate the another refill instead of therefill, the another refill including the other reels that have largerwidth than a width that the reels of the refill have.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, a transfer tool set can be providedfor which transfer tapes more than one kind that have different widthare available while preventing the number of components from increasing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second transfer tool according to theembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the same.

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along the line A-A in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken along the line B-B in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a refill according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 10 is a left side view of the same.

FIG. 11 is a cross section taken along the line C-C in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a cross section of a third transfer tool according to theembodiment corresponding to FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 is a cross section of a first transfer tool according to theembodiment corresponding to FIG. 6.

FIG. 14 is a cross section corresponding to FIG. 7.

FIG. 15 is a cross section of a wide refill according to the embodimentcorresponding to FIG. 11.

FIG. 16 is a cross section of a narrow refill according to theembodiment corresponding to FIG. 11.

FIG. 17 is a cross section showing a variation of the embodimentcorresponding to FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a cross section showing the variation of the embodimentcorresponding to FIG. 11.

FIG. 19 is a cross section showing the variation of the embodimentcorresponding to FIG. 15.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Described below is one embodiment of the present invention withreference to the drawings.

A transfer tool set S according to this embodiment is configured suchthat a plurality of refills, for example, a narrow refill 3 a, a mediumrefill 3 b and a wide refill 3 c, are prepared and a common transfertool main body 2 is able to selectively accommodate any of the refills.As transfer tools constituted with the transfer tool set S, a firsttransfer tool 1 a in which the narrow refill 3 a is installed on thecommon transfer tool main body 2, a second transfer tool 1 b in whichthe medium refill 3 b is installed on the transfer tool main body 2 anda third transfer tool 1 c in which the wide refill 3 c is installed onthe transfer tool main body 2 can be cited.

First, the second transfer tool 1 b shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 will bedescribed.

The second transfer tool 1 b includes the medium refill 3 b in which arefill main body 31 supports a pair of reels 32 and 33 to feed and windup a transfer tape T having a certain width, for example, a width of 10mm, and the common transfer tool main body 2 that has a first case 21and a second case 22 as a case to accommodate the detachable mediumrefill 3 b. According to the embodiment, the feeding reel 32 being areel on the feeding side has the same shape as the winding reel 33 beinga reel on the winding side.

Each of the reels 32 and 33 has a wheel part 32 a, 33 a to be supportedby a supporting shaft 311 on the refill main body 31, a body part 32 b,33 b continuously provided with a periphery of the wheel part 32 a, 33 aso that the transfer tape T is wound around a periphery of the body part32 b, 33 b and flanges 32 c, 33 c provided on both side edges of thebody part 32 b, 33 b. Each of the reels 32 and 33 is integrally moldedof resin. Each of the wheel parts 32 a and 33 a has a circular disk 32e, 33 e and a bearing 32 f, 33 f provided in a center part of thecircular disk 32 e, 33 e. Each of the circular disks 32 e and 33 e has adisklike shape with the bearing 32 f, 33 f that is integrally providedon the center of the circular disk 32 e, 33 e. Teeth for a ratchet toinhibit reverse rotation, which are not illustrated, are radially formedaround the bearing 32 f, 33 f on one face opposed to the refill mainbody 31 in each of the circular disks 32 e and 33 e. According to theembodiment, it prevents only the winding reel 33 from reverse rotating.Ribs 32 g to avoid failure to engage is formed on the other face of thecircular disk 32 e, and ribs 33 g to avoid failure to engage is formedon the other face of the circular disk 33 e. Each of the bearings 32 fand 33 f is formed into a cylindrical shape that is rotatably put on thesupporting shaft 311. The body parts 32 b and 33 b are formed intocylindrical shapes that are larger in diameter than the bearings 32 fand 33 f. One side part of the body part 32 b is unified with theperiphery of the wheel part 32 a, and one side part of the body part 33b is unified with the periphery of the wheel part 33 a. That is, each ofthe reels is configured such that a part of each of the body parts 32 band 33 b is laid over a periphery of each of the protuberance parts 4.In detail, each of the body parts 32 b and 33 b is provided with an endpart on a side close to a refill base 5 extending toward the refill base5 further than a side face close to the refill base 5 of each of thewheel parts 32 a and 33 a. Dimension of the extended portion of each ofthe body parts 32 b and 33 b is set smaller than protrusion dimension ofthe protuberance part 4. The flanges 32 c and 33 c are to preventlateral slippage of the transfer tape T wound around the body parts 32 band 33 b, a plurality of circular windows 32 d and 33 d to show residualamount of the transfer tape T are opened at prescribed intervals alongthe circumferential directions on the flanges 32 c and 33 c.

The refill main body 31 has the flat refill base 5, a pair ofprotuberance parts 4 protruding from one face of the refill base 5toward the wheel parts 32 a, 33 a of the reels 32 and 33, the supportingshafts 311 protruding at a center part on a top end of each of theprotuberance parts 4, and an attachment part 312 provided near a top endof the refill base 5. A transfer head 34 is provided on the attachmentpart 312. The refill base 5 is a thin plate-shaped member having a pairof disk parts 5 a that are parts corresponding to the reels 32 and 33formed into disk shapes and belt parts 5 b, one belt part 5 b connectingthe disk parts 5 a linearly, another belt part 5 b connecting one diskpart 5 a and a part equivalent to the attachment part 312 linearly. Theprotuberance parts 4 are paired to protrude from one face of the diskparts 5 a toward the wheel parts 32 a, 33 a of the reels 32 and 33, eachof top end faces 4 a of the protuberance parts 4 guides thecorresponding wheel part 32 a, 33 a of each of the reels 32 and 33.Specifically, each of the protuberance parts 4 has a cylindrical shapewith an outside diameter set smaller than inside diameters of the bodyparts 32 b and 33 b. The axis of one protuberance part 4 coincides withthe axis of the reel 32, and the axis of another protuberance part 4coincides with the axis of the reel 33. Each of the supporting shafts311 to support the wheel part 32 a, 33 a of each of the reels 32 and 33is provided to protrude at the center part on the top end of each of theprotuberance parts 4. Each of the top end faces 4 a is constituted of aridge formed into a circular shape at an edge part on the top end ofeach of the protuberance parts 4. Each of the top end faces 4 a isrubbed against one side face of the wheel part 32 a, 33 a of each of thereels 32 and 33. Specifically, each of the top end faces 4 a of theprotuberance parts 4 guides the reel 32, 33 by being rubbed against theoutside region around the teeth for the ratchet on the one side face.Also, a pawl for the ratchet to be engaged with the teeth for theratchet so as to inhibit reverse rotation of the winding reel 33, whichis not illustrated, is provided on the protuberance part 4 correspondingto the winding reel 33 for winding up among the above protuberance parts4. A positioning projection 5 c and positioning recess 5 d to be engagedwith the second case 22 described later of the transfer tool main body 2so as to position the medium refill 3 b itself are provided on the otherface of the refill base 5. Specifically, the positioning projection 5 cis formed inside the protuberance part 4 corresponding to the windingreel 33. The positioning recess 5 d is formed inside the protuberancepart 4 corresponding to the feeding reel 32 for feeding. Each of thesupporting shafts 311 provided on the top of each of the protuberanceparts 4 has a shaft main body 311 a having a cylindrical shape with cutparts to be inserted into the bearing 32 f, 33 f of the reel in arotatable manner, and stopper hooks 311 b provided in the cut part to beelastically engaged with an end face of the bearing 32 f, 33 f so as toprevent the bearing 32 f, 33 f from falling off the shaft main body. Acylindrical-shaped projection 311 c and a cross-shaped projection 311 dto come into contact with the first case 21 described later of thetransfer tool main body 2 so as to position the medium refill 3 b areprovided on the tops of the supporting shafts 311. That is, thecylindrical-shaped projection 311 c with a circular cross section isprovided on the supporting shaft 311 of the winding reel 33, and thecross-shaped projection 311 d with a cruciform cross section is providedon the supporting shaft 311 of the feeding reel 32. The attachment part312 has a first rib 312 a protruding from one side face of the refillbase 5 to be engaged with the first case 21 and a second rib 312 bprotruding from the other side face of the refill base 5 to be engagedwith the second case 22. The first rib 312 a has a cruciform crosssection, the transfer head 34 is provided on the first rib 312 a.Specifically, the transfer head 34 includes a head main body 34 aintegrally formed with the first rib 312 a and a transfer roller 34 bsupported by the head main body 34 a. The head main body 34 a iscomposed of plate-like parts integrally provided with the first rib 312a, a pair of guides 34 c being formed into an approximately triangularshape is provided in top end regions on both sides thereof to preventlateral slippage of the transfer tape T. The transfer roller 34 b isattached between the top ends of the guides 34 c so that the transferroller 34 b is rotatable.

Next, the wide refill 3 c constituting the third transfer tool 1 cespecially shown in FIGS. 1, 12 and 15 will be described. The widerefill 3 c is configured such that a refill main body 31 supports a pairof reels 32 and 33 to feed and wind up a transfer tape T having a widestwidth, for example, a width of 15 mm. A refill base 5 and a transferhead 34 used as components of the wide refill 3 c are the same as thecomponents of the above medium refill 3 b. On top of that, specificdimension of the reels 32 and 33 in the wide refill 3 c is differentfrom specific dimension of the reels 32 and 33 in the medium refill 3 b.That is, the measure of body parts 32 b and 33 b in the wide refill 3 cis set about 5 mm larger than the measure of the body parts 32 b and 33b in the medium refill 3 b to wind the transfer tape T having a width of15 mm. Moreover, length of extending end parts on the side close to therefill base 5 of the body parts 32 b and 33 c toward the refill base 5further than side faces close to the refill base 5 of wheel parts 32 aand 33 a is set long. Specifically, the length of the extended portionsof the body parts 32 b and 33 c is set 2.5 mm longer. Hence, the centerof the transfer tape T is located on the center of a transfer head 34similarly to the medium refill 3 b. The transfer head 34 of the widerefill 3 c is equal to the transfer head 34 of the medium refill 3 b inshape.

Then, the narrow refill 3 a constituting the first transfer tool 1 aespecially shown in FIGS. 1, 13, 14 and 16 will be described. The narrowrefill 3 a is configured such that a refill main body 31 supports a pairof reels 32 and 33 to feed and wind up a transfer tape T having anarrowest width, for example, a width of 5 mm. A refill base 5 being acomponent of the narrow refill 3 a is approximately the same as thecomponent of the above medium refill 3 b. On the other hand, a narrowhead 34 s is employed instead of the transfer head 34 for the narrowrefill 3 a. As especially shown in FIG. 14, the narrow head 34 s usesguides 34 c having a large thickness, a short transfer roller 34 b isattached to the narrow head 34 s. Thus, it is possible to surely preventlateral slippage of the transfer tape T with a width of 5 mm. Moreover,the measure of body parts 32 b and 33 b of the reels 32 and 33 is setabout 5 mm shorter than the measure of the body parts 32 b and 33 b inthe medium refill 3 b. Specifically, each of the reels 32 and 33 isconfigured such that the body part 32 b, 33 b is provided on a peripheryof a wheel part 32 a, 33 a to set an end face on the side close to therefill base 5 of the body part 32 b, 33 b is approximately flush with aside face close to the refill base 5 of the wheel part 32 a, 33 a.

Described below is the common transfer tool main body 2.

The transfer tool main body 2 selectively accommodates the narrow refill3 a, the medium refill 3 b or the wide refill 3 c described above andcan constitute any transfer tool among the first transfer tool 1 a, thesecond transfer tool 1 b and the third transfer tool 3 c. In otherwords, the transfer tool main body 2 is able to selectively accommodateeither the refill 3 a, 3 b, 3 c including the reels 32 and 33 on whichthe transfer tape T with a certain width is wound or another refill 3 a,3 b, 3 c including other reels 32 and 33 with a different width from theformer reels 32 and 33 inside. The transfer tool main body 2 has thefirst case 21, the second case 22 attached to the first case 21 so thatthe second case 22 is turnable, a cap 23 attached to the second case 22so that the cap 23 is slidable, a feeding gear 24 mounted on the firstcase 21, a feeding end 26 attached to the feeding gear 24 with a clutch25 intervening between them, an intermediate gear 27 meshing with thefeeding gear 24, a winding gear 28 meshing with the intermediate gear27, and a winding end 29 integrally provided with the winding gear 28.The feeding gear 24, the clutch 25, the feeding end 26, the intermediategear 27, the winding gear 28 and the winding end 29 constitute aninterlocking mechanism to interlock the rotation of the feeding reel 32with the rotation of the winding reel 33. The first case 21 is formedwith a rear plate 21 a to cover the rear of any of the refills 3 a, 3 band 3 c and a peripheral wall 21 b to cover the side of the refill 3 a,3 b, 3 c to be able to accommodate approximately whole the refill 3 a, 3b, 3 c. The first case 21 has a first attachment rib 21 c to fix theattachment part 312 of the refill main body 31, a winding shaft 21 d tosupport the winding gear 28, a feeding shaft 21 e to support the feedinggear 24, and a first hinge part 21 f that is turnably engaged with thesecond case 22 and able to constitute a hinge. The second case 22 iscomposed of a transparent resin. The second case 22 has a front plate 22a to cover the front of the refill 3 a, 3 b, 3 c and a peripheral wall22 b that rises on an edge part of the front plate 22 a. The peripheralwall 22 b can be engaged with and detached from the peripheral wall 21 bof the first case 21. The second case 22 has a second attachment rib 22c to fix the attachment part 312 of the refill main body 31, a shaftstoppage recess 22 e to press the feeding reel 32 after installing therefill 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, a shaft stoppage projection 22 d to press thewinding reel 33 after installing the refill 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, a capattachment part 22 g to which the cap 23 is attached in a slidablemanner, and a second hinge part 22 f that is engaged with the firsthinge part 21 f so as to constitute the hinge. The cap attachment part22 g is formed on an end part opposite to the second hinge part 22 fhaving a slit 22 h being an oblong hole to attach the cap 23 and a rail22 i being a groove to lead the cap into a precise movement. The cap 23attached to the second case 22 so that it is slidable is able to bepositioned in the capping attitude where the transfer head 34 or thenarrow head 34 s is capped so as to prevent the transfer head 34 or thenarrow head 34 s from touching an object around it when not in usebesides the usable attitude where the cap 23 abuts on the second case 22and the transfer head 34 or the narrow head 34 s is exposed out of thetransfer tool main body 2. The cap 23 has a cap main body 23 a like acurved plate to be a main constituent of the cap 23, a bump 23 bprotruding from the cap main body 23 a with a bulged part on a topthereof that is passed through a medial position formed to have a widewidth in the slit 22 h so as to be attached to the second case 22, and aslider 23 c that is able to slide along the above rail. The feeding gear24 is attached to the feeding shaft 21 e so that the feeding gear 24does not come off and is rotatable, the feeding end 26 is attached tothe top end side of the feeding shaft 21 e. In detail, the feeding gear24 has a gear part and a top end part near to the top end side of thefeeding shaft 21 e, the top end part being formed into an overhangingshape. And, the feeding end 26 is pressed against the overhanging partaway from the gear part, for example, by attaching a metal spring so asto constitute the clutch 25. The rotation of the feeding reel 32 when inuse is certainly transmitted to the feeding end 26 because the feedingend 26 is formed into a shape that can be engaged with the rib 32 gprovided on the circular disk 32 e. Meanwhile, the winding gear 28 isattached to the winding shaft 21 d so that the winding gear 28 does notcome off and is rotatable. The winding gear 28 always rotates at a speedsuch that the winding gear 28 can wind up a larger amount of thetransfer tape T than an amount of the transfer tape T to be fed duringusing the refill 3 a, 3 b, 3 c because the winding gear 28 has asuitable number of teeth. The transfer tape T is thereby prevented frombeing loosed in transferring. And, the clutch 25 eliminates thedifference in speed caused by winding up rapidly compared with thefeeding side. The winding end 29 integrally molded with the winding gear28 is formed into a shape that can be engaged with the rib 33 g providedon the circular disk 33 e similarly to the feeding end 26, the rotationof the winding end 29 transmitted from the feeding reel 32 via thefeeding end 26, the clutch 25, the winding gear 28 and the intermediategear 27 is certainly transmitted to the winding reel 33. According tothe embodiment, the intermediate gear 27 is rotatably attached to asmall projection formed at a point intervening between the feeding gear24 and the winding gear 28 on the first case 21, a disk part larger indiameter than a gear part meshing with the feeding gear 24 and thewinding gear 28 is formed to be nearer to the first case 21 than thegear part in the intermediate gear 27. This disk part gets caughtbetween the rear plate 21 a of the first case 21 and the feeding gear 24besides the winding gear 28 so as to be prevented from falling off thefirst case 21.

The above-described transfer tool set S capable of constituting suchtransfer tools is configured such that refills more than one kind inwhich widths of the transfer tapes T are different from each other, morespecifically three kinds of refill 3 a, 3 b and 3 c, are prepared andthe common transfer tool main body 2 is able to selectively accommodateany of the refills 3 a, 3 b and 3 c. And, when either of the refills 3 aand 3 b is installed on the transfer tool main body 2 as shown in FIGS.6, 12 and 13, empty spaces s1 having approximately the same width aseach other are formed on both sides of each of the reels 32 and 33 inthe first transfer tool 1 a, or empty spaces s2 having approximately thesame width as each other are formed on both sides of each of the reels32 and 33 in the second transfer tool 1 b. In other words, the emptyspaces s1, s2 are formed on both sides of the reels 32 and 33 in thefirst transfer tool 1 a or the second transfer tool 1 b so that thefirst case 21 and the second case 22 being the case are able toaccommodate the wide refill 3 c instead, the wide refill 3 c includinganother reels 32 and 33 that have larger width than a width that theabove reels 32 and 33 have. When the wide refill 3 c is installed on thetransfer tool main body 2, the reels 32 and 33 are arranged such thatapproximately no spaces exist on both sides of each of the reels 32 and33 allowing the movement of the reels 32 and 33.

In this way, since the empty spaces s1 made with the reels 32 and 33 andthe protuberance parts 4 are formed on both sides of the reels 32 and 33and the same as each other in the narrow refill 3 a as well as the emptyspaces s2 made with the reels 32 and 33 and the protuberance parts 4 areformed on both sides of the reels 32 and 33 and the same as each otherin the medium refill 3 b, the center of the transfer tape T alwayscoincides with the center c of the transfer head 34 although thetransfer tapes T of the refills 3 a, 3 b and 3 c are different in widthfrom each other. In addition, each of the refill bases 5 in the refills3 a, 3 b and 3 c to which the transfer head 34 is attached is set in thesame position relative to the transfer tool main body 2. Hence,whichever of the three kinds of refill 3 a, 3 b and 3 c is used, theposition of the center c of the transfer tape T relative to the transfertool main body 2 is uniform. Whichever of the refills 3 a, 3 b and 3 cis used, a feeling of use with the transfer tool set S according to theembodiment is not changed as a result. Therefore a user can suitably usethe transfer tools 1 a, 1 b and 1 c regardless of the differences of therefills 3 a, 3 b and 3 c from each other.

Such configuration as above provides each of the transfer toolsaccording to the embodiment with the specifications to facilitatehandling a variety of transfer tapes T in width through adjustingpositions of the top end faces 4 a of the protuberance parts 4 and thewheel parts 32 a and 33 a of the reels 32 and 33 relative to the bodyparts 32 b and 33 b on which the transfer tape T is wound at leastwithout changing the form of the refill base 5.

In particular, since each of the reels 32 and 33 is positionedrelatively with the transfer head 34 so that the center in the widthdirection of the transfer tape T is able to pass on the center of thetransfer head 34 according to the embodiment, changing a feeling of usefor the user is effectively avoided even though the widths of thetransfer tape T varies.

In order to facilitate handling a plurality of transfer tapes T thathave different width without changing size of the transfer tool 1 a, 1b, 1 c itself, the configuration can be cited in which each of the bodyparts 32 b and 33 b of the reels 32 and 33 is set such that the part ofthe body part 32 b, 33 b is laid over the periphery of the protuberancepart 4 in the medium refill 3 b and the wide refill 3 c according to theembodiment.

In order to unify components of the transfer tool main body 2 regardlessof width of the transfer tape T and reduce the number of components,empty spaces s1, s2 having the width equivalent to the width of theexposed part of each of the protuberance parts 4 that is not covered byeach of the body parts 32 b and 33 b of the reels 32 and 33 are formedon both sides of each of the reels 32 and 33 in the narrow refill 3 aand the medium refill 3 b according to the embodiment.

In order to facilitate handling the transfer tape T that has the narrowwidth of the narrow refill 3 a, each of the reels 32 and 33 isconfigured such that the body part 32 b, 33 b is provided on theperiphery of the wheel part 32 a, 33 a to set the end face on the sideclose to the refill base 5 of the body part 32 b, 33 b is approximatelyflush with the side face close to the refill base 5 of the wheel part 32a, 33 a according to the embodiment.

In order to compose the medium refill 3 b and the wide refill 3 cincluding the transfer tapes T that have the large widths with thecommon refill base 5, each of the reels 32 and 33 is configured suchthat the body part 32 b, 33 b is provided on the periphery of the wheelpart 32 a, 33 a to extend the end part on the side close to the refillbase 5 of the body part 32 b, 33 b toward the refill base 5 further thanthe side face close to the refill base 5 of the wheel part 32 a, 33 aaccording to the embodiment. Specifically, dimension of the extendedportion of the body part 32 b, 33 b is set smaller than protrusiondimension of the protuberance part 4 in the medium refill 3 b. And,dimension of the extended portion of the body part 32 b, 33 b is setsimilar to protrusion dimension of the protuberance part 4, that is, thedimension such that enough clearance to allow relative movement isgenerated in the wide refill 3 c.

In order to compose the refills 3 a, 3 b and 3 c that facilitate gettinga preferable feeling of use regardless of the widths of the transfertapes T, each of the refills 3 a, 3 b and 3 c is configured such thatthe transfer head 34 to guide the transfer tape T from the feeding reel32 toward the winding reel 33 is provided on the refill base 5 and eachof the reels 32 and 33 is positioned relatively with the transfer head34 so that the center in the width direction of the transfer tape T isable to pass on the center of the transfer head 34 according to theembodiment.

In order to suitably support the reels 32 and 33 even if theprotuberance parts 4 mate with the reels 32 and 33 having the body parts32 b and 33 b with different width, the configuration according to theembodiment is employed in which each of the protuberance parts 4 has thecylindrical shape with the outside diameter set smaller than the insidediameter of the body part 32 b, 33 b and is provided such that the axisof the protuberance part 4 coincides with the axis of the reel 32, 33,and each of supporting shafts 311 to support each of the wheel parts 32a and 33 a of the reels 32 and 33 protrudes at the center part on thetop end of each of the protuberance parts 4.

<Variation>

Described below is a variation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to19. The elements in the variation that are equivalent to the onesdescribed in the above embodiment are given the same reference signsthereas, the description thereof is omitted.

The transfer tool set S according to this variation is configured suchthat a plurality of refills, for example, a narrow refill 3 a, a mediumrefill 3 b and a wide refill 3 c, are prepared and the common transfertool main body 2 is able to selectively accommodate any of the refills 3a, 3 b and 3 c. As transfer tools constituted with the transfer tool setS according to the variation, similarly to the above embodiment, a firsttransfer tool 1 a in which the narrow refill 3 a shown in FIG. 17 isinstalled on the common transfer tool main body 2, a second transfertool 1 b in which the medium refill 3 b shown in FIG. 18 is installed onthe transfer tool main body 2 and a third transfer tool 1 c in which thewide refill 3 c shown in FIG. 19 is installed on the transfer tool mainbody 2 can be cited.

On top of that, the transfer tools 1 a, 1 b and 1 c according to thevariation include the common transfer tool main body 2, refill bases 5of the refills 3 a, 3 b and 3 c are formed into a common shape. In thisvariation, unlike in the above embodiment, the planar refill bases 5without the protuberance parts 4 are employed. Each of reels 32 and 33of each of the refills 3 a, 3 b and 3 c is formed such that a body part32 b, 33 b is provided on a periphery of a wheel part 32 a, 33 a to setan end face on a side close to the refill base 5 of the body part 32 b,33 b is approximately flush with a side face close to the refill base 5of the wheel part 32 a, 33 a. And, the narrow refill 3 a for the firsttransfer tool 1 a and the medium refill 3 b for the second transfer tool1 b have different spacers 4A in width from each other instead of theprotuberance parts 4.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, in the narrow refill 3 a and the mediumrefill 3 b, the spacers 4A configured separately from the refill base 5and each of the reels 32 and 33 intervene. For example, the spacers 4Aare members formed into a ringed shape with resin. Whichever of thereels 32 and 33 that have different widths corresponding to the widthsof the transfer tapes T are used, the center of the transfer tape T islocated on the center of a narrow head 34 s or a transfer head 34similarly to the wide refill 3 c through adjusting the width of thespacers 4A suitably. According to this variation, the mode is employedin which each of the reels 32 and 33 are mounted on supporting shafts311 after putting the supporting shafts 311 through the spacers 4A whileassembling the refills 3 a and 3 b.

As described above, since the spacers 4A having different widths fromeach other intervene between the refill base 5 and each of the reels 32and 33 in the first transfer tool 1 a and the second transfer tool 1 baccording to the variation, the empty spaces s1, s2 are formed on bothsides of each of the reels 32 and 33 so that the first case 21 and thesecond case 22 being the case are able to accommodate the wide refill 3c instead. Of course, each of the reels 32 and 33 are mounted in a stateof removing the spacers 4A from the refill base 5 when the wide refill 3c is installed, the reels 32 and 33 are consequently arranged such thatapproximately no spaces exist on both sides of each of the reels 32 and33 allowing the movement of the reels 32 and 33.

With such configuration, the specifications are yielded to facilitatehandling a variety of transfer tapes T in width through adjustingpositions of top end faces 4 a of the spacers 4A relative to the wheelparts 32 a and 33 a and the body parts 32 b and 33 b of the reels 32 and33 at least without changing the form of the refill base 5 similarly tothe above embodiment.

Needless to say, coil springs that are put on the supporting shafts 311or the like may used instead of the spacers 4A intervening between therefill base 5 and each of the reels 32 and 33 although the annular resinmembers are used as the spacers 4A in this variation.

While the embodiment of the present invention is described above, theconcrete structures of the respective components are not limited to theabove-described embodiment, and various modifications are possiblewithout departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

For example, even though the embodiment with the protuberance partsprotruding from the refill base and the variations with the spacers orthe coil springs and so on separate from the refill body and the reelshave been disclosed, of course the mode may be employed in which wheelparts of reels protrude from body parts of the reels toward a refillbase so that protuberance parts are provided on the reels. Even thoughthe transfer tool sets according to the embodiment and the variationswith the three kinds of refill that have the different tapes in widthhave been disclosed, of course a more transfer tape having a differentwidth may be added. And refills being components of a transfer tool setdo not always have transfer tapes to which the same transfer substanceis applied. For example, there may be used not only a refill capable ofapplying an adhesive agent but also a refill capable of applying acorrection agent. There may be used refills having transfer tapes towhich an adhesive agent is applied in intermittent patterns differentfrom each other. Even though the modes according to the embodiment andthe variation in which the clutch is constituted with the metal springhave been disclosed, of course a clutch using friction between membersthat are engaged with each other may be provided. Interlocking thefeeding reel with the winding reel does not always use the gears, theconfiguration in which a belt is wrapped around a pulley provided on theside of feeding and a pulley provided on the side of winding so that thebelt is able to slip on the pulleys can be employed. In addition, thespecific configurations, for example, the width of the tape or theproperty of the transfer substance itself are not limited to theabove-described embodiment and the variation, and various modificationsincluding existing ones are possible.

Other than that, the concrete structures of the respective componentsare not limited to the above-described embodiment and variation, variousmodifications are possible without departing from the scope and spiritof this invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention may be utilized for a transfer tool to be used ina state that a refill having reels to wind and hold a transfer tape isinstalled on a transfer tool main body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERAL

-   1 a transfer tool (first transfer tool)-   1 b transfer tool (second transfer tool)-   1 c transfer tool (third transfer tool)-   2 transfer tool main body-   21 a case (first case)-   21 b case (second case)-   21 c case (third case)-   3 a refill (narrow refill)-   3 b refill (medium refill)-   3 c refill (wide refill)-   T transfer tape-   31 refill main body-   311 supporting shaft-   32 feeding reel-   33 winding reel-   32 a, 33 a wheel part-   32 b, 33 b body part-   34 transfer head-   34 a transfer head (narrow head)-   4 protuberance part-   4A protuberance part (spacer)-   4 a top end face-   5 refill base-   s1, s2 empty space

1. A transfer tool comprising: a refill being configured such that arefill main body supports a pair of reels to feed and wind up a transfertape; and a transfer tool main body having a case that is able toselectively accommodate either the refill or another refill whichincludes other reels having different width from the reels of the refillinside, each of the reels having a wheel part supported by a supportingshaft of the refill main body and a body part provided to be continuouswith a periphery of the wheel part so that the transfer tape is woundaround a periphery of the body part, the refill main body having arefill base in which at least each part corresponding to each of thereels is flat and a pair of protuberance parts protruding from one faceof the refill base toward the wheel parts of the reels, each of top endfaces of the protuberance parts guiding the corresponding wheel part ofeach of the reels.
 2. The transfer tool according to claim 1, furthercomprising a transfer head to guide the transfer tape from the feedingreel toward the winding reel, each of the reels being positionedrelatively with the transfer head so that the center in the widthdirection of the transfer tape is able to pass on the center of thetransfer head.
 3. The transfer tool according to claim 1, wherein eachof the body parts of the reels is set such that a part of the body partis laid over a periphery of the protuberance part.
 4. The transfer toolaccording to claim 1, wherein empty spaces are formed on both sides ofeach of the reels, the empty space having a width equivalent to a widthof an exposed part of each of the protuberance parts that is not coveredby each of the body parts of the reels.
 5. A refill used for thetransfer tool according to claim 1, wherein each of the reels isconfigured such that a body part is provided on a periphery of a wheelpart to set an end face on a side close to a refill base of the bodypart is approximately flush with a side face close to the refill base ofthe wheel part.
 6. A refill used for the transfer tool according toclaim 1, wherein each of the reels is configured such that a body partis provided on a periphery of a wheel part to extend an end part on aside close to a refill base of the body part toward the refill basefurther than a side face close to the refill base of the wheel part, anda dimension of the extended portion of the body part is set smaller thanprotrusion dimension of a protuberance part.
 7. The refill according toclaim 5, wherein the refill is configured such that a transfer head toguide a transfer tape from the feeding reel toward the winding reel isprovided on the refill base, each of the reels being positionedrelatively with the transfer head so that the center in the widthdirection of the transfer tape is able to pass on the center of thetransfer head.
 8. The refill according to claim 5, wherein each of theprotuberance parts has a cylindrical shape with an outside diameter setsmaller than an inside diameter of the body part and is provided suchthat an axis of the protuberance part coincides with an axis of thereel, each of supporting shafts to support each of the wheel parts ofthe reels protruding at a center part on a top end of each of theprotuberance parts.
 9. A transfer tool set comprising: a plurality ofthe refills including a refill being configured such that a refill mainbody supports a pair of reels to feed and wind up a transfer tape andthe refill according to claim 6 are prepared, a common transfer toolmain body is able to selectively accommodate any of the refills.
 10. Atransfer tool comprising: a refill being configured such that a refillmain body supports a pair of reels to feed and wind up a transfer tape;and a transfer tool main body having a case that is able to selectivelyaccommodate either the refill or another refill which includes otherreels having different width from the reels of the refill inside, emptyspaces being formed on both sides of each of the reels so that the caseis able to accommodate the another refill instead of the refill, theanother refill including the other reels that have larger width than awidth that the reels of the refill have.
 11. The refill according toclaim 6, wherein the refill is configured such that a transfer head toguide a transfer tape from the feeding reel toward the winding reel isprovided on the refill base, each of the reels being positionedrelatively with the transfer head so that the center in the widthdirection of the transfer tape is able to pass on the center of thetransfer head.
 12. The refill according to claim 6, wherein each of theprotuberance parts has a cylindrical shape with an outside diameter setsmaller than an inside diameter of the body part and is provided suchthat an axis of the protuberance part coincides with an axis of thereel, each of supporting shafts to support each of the wheel parts ofthe reels protruding at a center part on a top end of each of theprotuberance parts.